Melody Thomas Scott (born Melody Ann Thomas, April 18, 1956) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress appearing in the psychological thriller film, Marnie. She later appeared in films The Beguiled (1971), Posse (1975), The Shootist (1976), The Car (1977), The Fury (1978) and Piranha (1978). In 1979 she began starring as Nikki Newman on the CBS daytime soap opera, The Young and the Restless.
Life and career Scott was born Melody Ann Thomas in Los Angeles. Her first film credit was as a child actress in the 1964 Alfred Hitchcock movie Marnie. On television, she guest-starred on My Three Sons, Wagon Train and Ironside. She had supporting roles in the psychological thriller film The Beguiled (1971), and the Western films Posse (1975) and The Shootist (1976) in which she becomes the last actress to exchange lines with John Wayne. In the late 1970s, Scott made number-of guest appearances on nighttime series such as, The Rockford Files, Charlie's Angels, and a recurring role on The Waltons. She co-starred in the 1977 supernatural horror film The Car and the following year appeared in the horror films The Fury and Piranha.
In 1979, at the age of 23, Scott took over the role of Nikki Reed, a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks, on the daytime serial The Young and the Restless, choosing the part over a sitcom pilot that in the end was not picked up. She was a replacement for the previous Nikki, who had lasted six months. Over time, her character reformed and became an important part of Genoa City society, as she married Victor Newman (Eric Braeden). Scott has said, "It's a miracle for an actor to have a job last 35 years. I am so blessed." In 1999, she received Daytime Emmy Awards nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Scott has made guest-starring appearances in a number of prime time series, such as Hotel, Diagnosis Murder, The Nanny, The King of Queens, My Name Is Earl and Castle. She was a celebrity guest on The $25,000 Pyramid for a week in June 1985.
On February 19, 2019 The Young and the Restless featured a stand-alone episode to honor Scott's 40-year history with the serial. In 2024, Scott received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Personal life On the set of The Young and the Restless, she met her third husband, the show's executive producer Edward J. Scott. They married in 1985 and have three daughters, Jennifer (his daughter from a previous marriage), Alexandra Danielle Yeaggy (father is the late Carlos Yeaggy, a makeup artist Melody met on the set of Y&R.) and Elizabeth. The family resides in Beverly Hills, California. Jennifer gave birth to twins on May 25, 2011, a boy named James and a girl named Charlotte. James and Charlotte are Melody and Edward's first and second grandchild, respectively.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1964Marnieyoung MarnieUncredited1971The BeguiledAbigail(as Melody Thomas)1975PosseLaurie(as Melody Thomas)1976The ShootistGirl on streetcar(as Melody Thomas)1977The CarSuzie Pullbrook(as Melody Thomas)1978The FuryLaRue(as Melody Thomas)1978PiranhaLaura Dickinson(as Melody Thomas)2005FreezerburnJill Renzie the Moviestar
Television Year Title Role Notes1965Wagon TrainSamanthaEpisode: "The Katy Piper Story" (as Melody Thomas)1969IronsideLeslie Richards Episode: "Goodbye to Yesterday" (as Melody Thomas)1977SecretsLaura FlemingTV movie (as Melody Thomas)1977Code RLindaEpisode: "The Firebug" (as Melody Thomas)1977FishJoanie KellenEpisode: "The Neighbors" (as Melody Thomas)1977The WaltonsDarlene JarvisEpisodes: "The Go-Getter" and "The Seashore" (as Melody Thomas)1978Charlie's AngelsBetsy HarperEpisodes: "The Sandcastle Murders" (as Melody Thomas)1979Makin' ItCarol / PaulaEpisodes: "Stayin' Alive" and "Tony's Homecoming" (as Melody Thomas)1979BillyShirleyEpisode: "Computer Dating" (as Melody Thomas)1979The Rockford FilesSherryEpisode: "Lions, Tigers, Monkeys and Dogs, Part 1" (as Melody Thomas)1979–presentThe Young and the RestlessNikki NewmanSeries regular1980The Scarlett O'Hara WarLaurie LeeTV movie (as Melody Thomas)1985HotelMandy Vinning Episode: "Sleeping Dogs" (as Melody Thomas)1997The NannyHerselfEpisode: "The Heather Biblow Story"2001The King of QueensNikki NewmanEpisode: "Inner Tube"2003The Paradise VirusLinda FlemmingTV movie2007My Name Is EarlPill Popping Mom Episode: "The Birthday Party"2011CastleTonya Wellington Episode: "Nikki Heat"2014The Crazy OnesFloraEpisode: "The Monster"2022 The Bold and the BeautifulNikki NewmanGuest: 1 episode (September 26, 2022)
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result 1991 8th Telegatto Awards Best Actress The Young and the Restless 199511th Soap Opera Digest Awards Outstanding Actress The Young and the Restless 1999 26th Daytime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Lead Actress The Young and the Restless 2001 17th Soap Opera Digest Awards Outstanding Actress The Young and the Restless
See also Victor Newman and Nikki Reed Supercouple
References
External links
Melody's official page